“Cough! Ahem!”

Latifa coughed heavily as if she had inhaled something wrong, startled by Hades suddenly calling her by the nickname “Lati”.

“Lati.”

“Wait, cough, cough!”

While it was common for Imperials to call each other by nicknames, it was usually only done between close friends or family members.

She never dreamed she would hear such a nickname coming from Hades’ mouth.

‘Of course, we did have that moment where our lips brushed, but that was just getting swept up in the mood…!’

It couldn’t even really be called a kiss.

Suddenly recalling that “peculiar contact” she had with him alone after the inauguration ceremony, Latifa blushed and coughed.

‘Could it be that Ruhan told him?’

She remembered introducing herself to Ruhan at the market using Lati as a pseudonym.

“Lati. Lati. Lati.”

When Latifa didn’t respond, Hades stared at her intently and kept repeating the nickname.

“Wait a minute! Stop calling me that!”

“Every time I say the word ‘Lati’, your reaction is amusing so I kept trying it out. Watching you choke and hack like a puppy that swallowed a large bone the wrong way is quite entertaining.”

“It’s not like there’s any special meaning behind it. That’s, um, how should I say it in Desert language?”

Was there a Desert word that meant nickname? Unable to think of an appropriate term, Latifa added a simple explanation.

“It’s an affectionate name used between people who love each other.”

“Between people who love each other?!”

Latifa scratched her cheek a bit embarrassed under Hades’ gaze that had sharpened considerably for some reason.

“Imperials shorten names when they’re close. Did you perhaps hear it from Prince Ruhan?”

“How does Prince Ruhan know your name? And a special name shared between lovers at that?”

Feeling like she was sitting on a bed of thorns under Hades’ persistent and sharp stare, Latifa fidgeted.

“Well… it’s a long story.”

“Explain.”

“…Hmm.”

She was a little worried that explaining her connection to Ruhan would inevitably lead to mentioning getting separated from Yanan and encountering the kidnapper at the market.

‘Yanan is a really good person. I don’t want to get him in trouble because of me.’

“Quickly!”

Latifa rapidly wracked her brain and soon came up with a good tactic.

“Let’s add this as a condition when we write up the contract regarding the Frau position.”

“What?”

“We haven’t written up the contract about the Frau role yet, right? There’s a clause I want to include.”

Hades looked intrigued by Latifa’s newly brazen attitude, a far cry from before when she couldn’t even properly demand her share. He gestured with his chin for her to continue.

“If I tell you why Prince Ruhan knows the name Lati, promise you won’t punish Yanan.”

“Yanan? Why is Yanan suddenly being mentioned?”

As Hades rubbed his chin and looked pensive, Latifa quickly grabbed his arm, worried his clever mind would figure it out.

“No. Hurry. Promise me quickly that you won’t punish Yanan. Please? Hurry!”

Hades seemed flustered by Latifa suddenly approaching and tugging on his arm, his gaze darting around.

Seeing him flustered, Latifa rapidly blinked her eyes and clung even more to his arm.

“Please? Commander Hades! You’ll do that, right?”

“Goodness! Stop pestering me! Alright, alright! I won’t punish Yanan so let go!”

Honestly. He clings to her incessantly and silently, but now he says this.

Despite that thought, Latifa beamed brightly at his promise not to punish Yanan.

“Now explain. Why does Ruhan know you?”

“Ah, about how that came to be…”

Latifa swallowed dryly and broached the subject of the day she met Ruhan.

“The day I went to the spice market to save Yanan and Kabar from the Golden Lion. I lost Yanan there and got lost. Then some
thug tried to kidnap me and Prince Ruhan helped me.”

As soon as Hades heard that, his pupils dilated as he exploded with rage.

“A thug?! Why are you only mentioning this now?! Damn it, Yanan! Allowing some stranger to lay hands on Lord Caleb’s property! Daring to tarnish the Commander’s reputation! Yanan!”

As Hades suddenly got worked up and tried to stand to go find Yanan, Latifa quickly grabbed his shoulders.

“You promised me! That you wouldn’t punish Yanan!”

“To hell with that! That’s a separate issue! You were lost and could have lost your life in the worst case!”

“But Commander Hades. Even if it was just a verbal promise, going back on a deal is not becoming of the Grand Bazaar’s ways, is it?”

“…Damn it!”

At Latifa’s words, he plopped back down in his seat, grinding his teeth.

“That’s when Prince Ruhan saved me so I told him my pseudonym. Lati. And he told me to call him Ruhan. I swear, I had no idea he was a prince! I was shocked too when he showed up at the Frau inauguration.”

Hades sat silently with his mouth clamped shut, saying nothing.

Latifa felt like she couldn’t let her guard down for even a moment when speaking with him, like a small ember that could spread into a huge flame if neglected. He was like a young child.

‘Sigh. Young children should listen well to adults.’

Shaking her head, Latifa spoke to Hades.

“Commander Hades. I can’t choose who saves me from danger, and if it wasn’t for him, I wouldn’t be by your side right now. I haven’t seen him since then, and just because he’s a prince doesn’t mean I plan to do anything about it. Anyways, I’m safe and there’s no reason for you to get angry.”

Hades stared at Latifa for a long while before spitting out a sentence.

“…Ruhan calls you Lati.”

“Pardon?”

“And you said that’s a special name shared between lovers?”

“Yes, for Imperials.”

“Ruhan… called you Lati.”

“Oh, yes. Because I taught him to.”

Latifa could only dumbly answer his repetitive statements. What else could she really say?

“So you’re saying that’s how Imperials refer to each other?”

“Yes.”

“So you’re implying that you and Ruhan are close?”

“Huh. Should I say we’re close? I mean, he did save me and it was an awkward situation to give my real name.”

Latifa tilted her head as she replied.

“I am…!”

At Latifa’s matter-of-fact response, he looked like he wanted to say something but held back, remaining silent.

Then he suddenly spit out.

“…How great of you!”

“Huh?”

“You’re so great!”

He seemed to be in a bad mood, grumbling as he got up from his seat.

‘Did I say something wrong? Why does he look upset?’

But no matter how much she went over the questions and answers, she didn’t think she had said anything that wrong.

Of course, who could understand what went on in that crookedly coiled Commander’s mind.

“I won’t punish Yanan. That was our promise.”

He told her as he headed for the bedroom door.

‘Phew, that’s a relief.’

Latifa let out an inner sigh of relief.

“However.”

However?

“You won’t escape punishment.”

“My punishment?”

“Didn’t you clearly only stipulate the condition that ‘Yanan’ wouldn’t be punished? Don’t you share responsibility for fearlessly trailing after Yanan, getting lost, nearly getting caught by a thug, and disgracing the Commander’s honor?”

I don’t think so!

She wanted to cry out in protest but seeing Hades’ sour face, she felt it was wiser to stop here. With a small sigh, Latifa resigned herself.

“Fine. I’ll gladly accept any punishment.”

“Any punishment?”

The corners of Hades’ lips began to curve up ominously.

***

Latifa pleaded with Yanan, sobbing.

“Yanan… This is too much, even so.”

“Lady Latifa, you always overreact to trivial things. You know it can’t be helped even if you make that face.”

Despite making the most pitiful expression, Yanan firmly refused and placed an ornate headdress on top of Latifa’s head.

“I’m seriously so embarrassed!”

Latifa ended up burying her face in her clasped hands.

Hades’ punishment was truly ridiculous beyond compare.

It was to dress up lavishly like a goddess and wander around the vast Caleb estate every hour. She also had to smile like a goddess and wave at the servants.

Before lunch, she had circled the southern annex and nearly died of shame from all the servants’ stares boring into her.

Unlike the Frau inauguration ceremony where it was dark and the audience was far away, it was bright here and the servants passed by in close proximity, making it even more awkward.

“Having such an easy task as punishment, Lord Hades is quite eccentric too.”

“Easy?! Then you try it, Yanan!”

“I’m old.”

She was subtly firm at times like this.

“Head Maid! The flower crown is finished!”

A young maid handed over a large flower crown overflowing with light pink dahlias, white daffodils, and sweet peas in full bloom.

“Ah, it’s so pretty. Please take off the one from earlier, Lady Latifa.”

“You, you made another one?!”

“You need to wear a different flower crown in the evening. And change outfits too.”

Latifa looked aghast as Yanan removed the large diagonal flower crown from her shoulders. Then the newly made one was placed across her shoulders again.

“Lord Hades has been putting in effort lately, sending messages to various artificeums (workshops). Continuously requesting them to create the finest accessories and attire for the Lady.”

“Tell Hades to stop, Yanan. It’s already way too much! Right now, there are chests piled with clothes I haven’t even tried on next to Hamam!”

“Lady Latifa. This is Caleb.”

Yanan smiled magnanimously as she fussed with Latifa’s clothes.

At those words ‘This is Caleb’, Latifa simply gave up.

“Ah, so beautiful. No wonder Lord Hades is smitten.”

“Indeed. It’s like Lady Calende herself descended from the heavens.”

The young maids murmured in awe, looking at Latifa standing goddess-like.

“Now then, I shall guide you to the northern annex of the estate.”

‘Seriously, how does it take all day just to tour and look around one house!’

They walked down the turquoise-paved corridor connecting the center of the Caleb estate, heading north. Latifa had to listen to Yanan introducing every nook and cranny of the house, as well as the reverent and moved exclamations from the servants.

“Ooh. Look over there, it’s the goddess!”

“Heard one of the royal messengers’s life was saved because of her?”

“Of course! She even dissuaded Lord Hades, what an amazing woman!”

Flashing an awkward smile at them, Latifa discreetly asked Yanan.

“Why do they all like me so much? They know I’m not really a goddess.”

“We Desert people are instinctively drawn to strength. They can’t help but be attracted when you display such strength.”

‘Is it because I tamed the lion?’

It didn’t make much sense to her but Latifa continued trailing after Yanan, taking in the surroundings. She had been stuck to the east side where Hades’ bedroom was located and the area with the lion’s den, so she hadn’t had a chance to properly look around the estate.

Although it was embarrassing, she did enjoy seeing the splendid and grand scenery of the Caleb estate.

Underneath the octagonal stone roofs, layers of white sand bricks exuded a sense of restrained beauty, and the intricately curving arch passages had diverse patterns in each section that were fun to examine.

She was so engrossed looking up at the magnificent gables, intricately carved like lace embroidery with dizzying arabesque patterns, that she nearly fell into the waterway below.

‘I thought there would be no water at all since it’s a desert, but there’s abundant groundwater too.’

Clear water flowed through the beautifully maintained waterways, clean enough to see her reflection. Just then, Hades and some man approached from the opposite side of the waterway, noisily chatting.

“This area was also renovated late last year and the repairs over there are perfect. The eastern gardens were completely wrecked from hastily constructing the stadium a while ago, but it should be fine once the landscaping is redone.”

“Ah, Commander Hades!”

When Latifa called out to him, the chattering man grinned at Latifa and Yanan. Yanan shook her head as if it was a headache and said to Latifa.

“That man is Lukwan. He’s in charge of the male servants… and is a bit immature.”

“Whoa, Sister Yanan still sees me as a 7-year-old kid, huh? It’s been over 30 years since I started serving the Caleb family but she says I’m immature.”

Lukwan laughed heartily from across the waterway. Yanan bowed her head to Hades and respectfully said.

“We are in the midst of carrying out the Frau’s punishment as you ordered.”

“Seeing her up close, she truly is a stunning beauty. That white skin is really marvelous. Absolutely gorgeous. I’ll have to worship you as a goddess from now on.”

At Lukwan’s glib remarks, Hades swiftly retorted.

“Not your goddess, my goddess.”

Lukwan immediately shut his mouth at the chiding tone.

“You may go now. I will attend to the goddess from here.”

And without hesitation, Hades jumped into the waterway separating them with a splash.